Stray Cat Strut Chapter Sixty-Eight - Paperworker

Chapter Sixty-Eight - Paperworker

The Family is many things, but most of all, its a place for the buck to stop.

--Agent Argent, 2032

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I jumped off my warch and landed in a crouch, boots muffling any of the noise I should have made dropping to the ground like that. My coat flapped a bit, so I straightened it as I stood up. Crackshot, nice to see you again, I said.

Miss Stray Cat, he said with a nod. Pleased to see you too. Didnt know youd be here when they sent over, but Im happy to see you again.

You know her? the girl with the ice-thed gear asked. I think she pitched her voice low enough not to carry, but that didnt really matter to .

Crackshot and I have a bit of history, I said. Was it or Gomorrah that gave you the na? I asked.

Ah, that was you, he said with a grin. Pleased with it so far too. So thanks for that. And yeah, Miss Stray Cat helped a heap when I was just starting off. Still havent spent all the points I made during that big wave.

I nodded along and buried my envy. Id made so points back today, but I was probably going to leave Burrlington with about the sa amount Id gone in with.

Then again, that might change. So of the gear Id bought was going to generate so small trickle of points as long as the city kept up its defences. In any case, that was a worry for later. So, whore your friends? I asked.

Oh, right, Crackshot said. This is Shiverin. He gestured to the small woman standing next to him. She blinked, raised a hand, then waved, all with quick, jerky motions that ca off as extrely nervous, like she was so sort of human chihuahua. This is Rod. He gestured to the chick in the racing outfit who nodded once. And thats Hairy.

Hairy smiled at , and I decided to studiously ignore him.

Well, welco to Burlington, I said. Things have been... all over the place, honestly, but overall, not that bad. Is one of you the underwater specialist? I asked.

I got four head shakes there. Family ntioned that soone called Drowning Man was heading over from the other end of the great lakes. Supposed to be here tonight or tomorrow morning, Crackshot said.

Thatll do it. Theyll have their work cut out for them. Theres a fuck-huge hive in the lake. What do you guys know about the situation here? And are you four... taking over from here, or am I just getting my hopes up for so ti off?

Crackshot rubbed at the back of his neck. Well, were supposed to be under Drowning Mans command. I think hes coming over with his own team to take over from there. Dont know how the handoffs supposed to work though. The battalion heres all Family-related folk.

I could feel a fresh headache coming on already, and part of could already picture what was going to happen.

The militia here got along... sowhat well with . They genuinely seed to like the local samurai as well, since they were locals and theyd worked together. They also got along well with the Kittens.

The Kittens here were all gung-ho about helping, but they were also big on community stuff, and since the Militia was hogrown, they got along well despite a few grudges. The Kittens were very obviously built to support the Militia, and that made them get along.

Now we were bringing in outsiders who seed to know what they were doing, and who I would bet were going to rub the fact in.

Thank fuck it wouldnt be my problem to sort it all out.

Well, that sounds aweso. Nice to et you all. Hope you enjoy your stay. If you want to get ahead and make a few quick points, just hop on over the wall. Theres so aliens out there if youre willing to search around for them.

I dont know if were that equipped, Crackshot said. His eyes wandered over to my warch.

Oh, you dont need anything like that, I said. Thats because I was out near the shore. Just... dont go near the shore. Not that you can, its all on fire now.

On fire? Shiverin asked.

Gomorrah was around. Anyway! Youll want to figure out whoevers in charge of the Kittens. Theyre the nice folk in the cute outfits with the ears. Try getting Intel-chans attention too. He, or she, or whatever they are, has a pretty good idea of where the next fire that needs putting out is.

Youre not sticking around? Crackshot asked.

I shrugged. I might. I might not. The fun part of not being part of any organisation or anything is that I get to do what I want. And maybe what I want is to sleep in my own bed. I patted him on the shoulder. But dont worry. Ill listen to the news. If youre in deep, deep shit, then give a call, yeah?

Right, yeah, of course, he said.

I nodded to him, then headed back to my ch. Good luck! I said as I grabbed onto the side, then pulled myself up. Soon enough I was laying back down in my cockpit and gingerly jacking myself back into the chs control system. Hope they manage.

I suspect they will. And the added challenge of not having soone as aware of the issues as you are, will allow them to grow even more.

Thats a nice way of putting it. Kind of a shitty justification, but nice-sounding, I said as I turned the warch around and started heading deeper into downtown.

Its the sa justification that other Vanguard used for not assisting you, and so far it has proven worthwhile, hasnt it? You have faced great challenges and have grown from them.

I supposed I couldnt shit on the idea that hard, but it still felt a bit raw.

I arrived at the mall in short order. My ch wasnt quite as fast as a car could go, but I had the fantastic ability to ignore what little traffic there was. Cars tended to move aside when they saw a giant chanical warcat running in their general direction. I didnt waste the ti heading over either. I placed a few quick calls to Intel-chan, informing them that there were new people to coordinate with. Then I checked up on Sprout and Arm-a-Geddon, just to make sure they were still alive.

At so point, Manic had joined them out in the field, so that was good to know. It probably ant that her little excursion had been a success then.

Good news all around.

I brought the ch to a stop in front of the mall and climbed out of it, this ti being a whole lot more careful while unplugging myself from the chs control system. Surprisingly, doing things the right way didnt lead to sudden massive headaches, which was nice to know.

By the ti I dismounted, Lucy had co down and was waiting for by the entrance. Cat! she cheered.

Instantly, all of the sour thoughts Id been having were wiped away, and I found myself smiling like a moron. Hey, I said as I jumped off the side of the ch. Look, I got a warch! I said while unclasping my helt and removing it.

Lucy laughed as she pulled into a hug. You did. And its already ssy and covered in dents. If I ever buy a car, youre not allowed to drive it.

I scoffed. And here I was going to let you ride my giant cat ch, I said.

If I want to ride a Cat, then I have plenty of options, she purred, and my smile turned from moronic to goofy for a mont. How did things go?

Not bad, I said. Bunch of Family troops just arrived. Our reinforcents.

Arent they early? she asked.

Maybe, but I wont let them know it, I said before stealing a kiss. Hey, I was thinking, maybe we could head ho?

Right now? she asked.

I nodded. Sure, why not?

Lucy laughed. Why not? Cat... It was her turn to steal a quick kiss. You cant just drop a heap of responsibility on a girls lap, then ask her to run off into the sunset with you right after. At least give a few hours to make sure the Kittens here will be fine?

Ah, yeah, I guess that makes sense.

She grinned. Youre the best. But youd be even better if you lent Myalis to help with all of this paperwork.

Im afraid you cant lend to anyone. On the other hand, if you help her yourself, I can assist you in assisting her.

Which ant doing so of the paperwork myself.

The shit I did for Lucy. Unbelievable.

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